Most often, a lump in the abdomen is caused by a hernia. An abdominal hernia occurs when there is an area where the muscles are weak. This allows the internal organs to bulge through the abdominal wall. A hernia may not appear until after you strain, lift something heavy, or have a prolonged period of coughing.

There are several types of hernias, based on where they occur:

Inguinal hernia appears as a bulge in the groin or scrotum. This type is more common in men than women.

Incisional hernia can occur through a scar if you have had abdominal surgery.

Umbilical hernia appears as a bulge around the belly button. It occurs when the muscle around the navel doesn't close completely.

Seek appropriate care for chronic cough or constipation if you have a hernia. Straining associated with these conditions causes the intestines to bulge further into the hernia.

Call your health care provider if:

Call your doctor if you have a lump in your abdomen that becomes larger, discolored, or painful.

If you have a hernia, call your doctor if you have:

Fever

Vomiting

Abnormal appearance of the hernia

Pain or tenderness around the hernia

A strangulated hernia (when the blood supply to the organs that protrude through the hernia is lost) is very rare, but it is a medical emergency.

What to expect at your health care provider's office:

The doctor will examine you and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms, such as:

Where is the lump located?

When did you first notice the lump in your abdomen?

Is it always there or does it come and go?

How large is the abdominal lump? Try to measure the diameter (distance across) or compare it to another object (the size of a baseball, for example)

Does anything make the lump bigger or smaller?

What other symptoms do you have?

During the physical examination, you may be asked to cough or strain.

Surgery may be needed to correct incisional hernias or umbilical hernias that do not go away by the time the child approaches school age. Emergency surgery is needed in the case of a strangulated hernia.